Peel Holdings, the owner and developer of Gloucester Quays, has renewed its pledge to open the door to £100million of investment in the city in the next three years.

There is £25million-worth of new infrastructure on the cards in the immediate future, including the new Next megastore at the Peel Centre which is part of a £14million regeneration of that site, £4million being ploughed into Peel's canalside estate where luxury retirement apartments are being built just off St Ann Way, and a further £6million of development at the Quays shopping centre itself, details of which are still under wraps.

The vision for a Next megastore at the Peel Centre

Gloucester Quays managing director Jason Pullen said that in turn would open the door to another £75million of private sector investment.

Mr Pullen added: "As an entrepreneur, John Whittaker has a really good understanding of the inherent value of land, air and water and what it can be.

"He had a vision, not just in Gloucester but in other areas where he purchased assets like the Manchester Ship Canal. Gloucester was one of a number of strategic acquisitions where we thought they were under-valued, under-exploited and where they could reach their full potential."

£14m is being invested in regenerating the Peel Centre

Peel own 59 acres of land in Gloucester, including the retail outlet centre, and have so far developed 22 of the acres they own around the Docks.

The outlet centre, which opened on May 21 2009, and the historic Docks have so far created 3,000 jobs, has 100 shopping units, a gym and a 10-screen Cineworld.

"No-one believes that the regeneration in Gloucestershire is finished or the job that Peel is doing is finished," said Mr Pullen.